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Letter to the editor: Child care a key investment

Posted
Monday, July 30, 2018 11:18 am

Child care a key investment

As an educator with more than 30 years of experience, I have seen firsthand how high-quality early childhood programs help children and families thrive. While quality child care is not cheap, it is an investment that we must make. Child care is important for the healthy development of children, and it’s also essential for parents to maintain employment or return to work.

A study last year found that a family of four earning less than $25,000 a year with an infant and toddler in a child care center would have to spend 73 percent of its income on child care. That’s why I’d like to thank Congress, and specifically Sen. Bennet, for voting to double funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

CCDBG helps low- and middle-income families afford child care. We must call on Congress to continue these investments and ensure CCDBG receives this historic level of funding again in fiscal year 2019. We are already seeing the positive impact of these funds here in Colorado. Colorado has made significant improvements to ensure children and families reap the benefits of consistent child care. These changes include raising the eligibility requirements for families and creating statewide exit eligibility so that families don’t lose benefits simply because they moved counties, among others.

When we invest in children, particularly those living in poverty, we are setting them up for success. Child care is important for our youngest learners, our families and our communities.

Two people were killed after a woman driving a stolen car crashed into their vehicle at the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Mineral Avenue in Littleton in the early hours of Feb. 6, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.